By Cody Starken DoD News Features, Defense Media Activity
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, November 18, 2015 — Before former
Army Capt. Gregory David Estevez removed his uniform for the last time, the
Army worked to ensure he was able to achieve a stable return to civilian life.
Estevez, who’d served as an operations officer for the Joint
Base San Antonio Warrior Transition Battalion, sustained injuries during his
service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It can take time, sometimes months or even years, before
wounded service member can make the transition from military to civilian life.
Estevez credited the success of his transition on many things, including
in-depth treatment, his family, physical therapy and an upbringing that
emphasized the value of hard work.
Headquarters Company
Estevez began his transition at the transition battalion’s
headquarters company, where he was greeted and registered. Registration is a
significant step in the transition process because it marks the point where the
healing journey begins.
“Soldiers in-process with our unit and there’re a lot of
appointments that are scheduled to develop their plan for treatment based on
their injury,” said Army Capt. Randal W. Maurer, commander of the Warrior
Transition Battalion. “Once that plan of care is developed, they will go to the
line company based on their injuries. They will continue their treatment,
eventually allowing them to return to the Army or transition into the civilian
world.”
Estevez worked with Army, civilian and contractor staff
during his transition, and Opal J. Charles, the warrior transition liaison,
served as the link between Estevez and his family when they needed the support.
Charles works with different organizations to provide support services to the
families of the wounded and helps families who work and cannot take time off.
“My position is between the government and the community and
non-profits,” Charles said. “I provide all the things the family [needs] that
is not a traditional benefit to these families through the government.”
Case Managers
Georgeann Jackson is an assigned nurse case manager whose
responsibilities include receiving and analyzing each case to ensure that every
service member obtains the proper care. This can be a challenge, because
military personnel are sometimes not forthright about everything that may be
affecting their recovery, she said.
“We have to listen to the service member, and try to find
out what they are not talking about to determine their true problems. We want
to bring that to the forefront of the conversation so that we can treat their
ailment,” Jackson said.
Estevez met throughout his transition with Jackson to talk.
She conducted an interview with him every time they sat down to discuss
recurring or new ailments that might have emerged since their last meeting.
“She is great, and very well-respected among the soldiers,
to include the staff,” Estevez said. “Sometimes patients are stubborn, but I
will admit it -- I am too. She is the checks and balances in the system and
says, ‘Hey you need to see this doctor or take this physical therapy.’”
“We have to know as much as possible about the patient. We
include the family, and the spouse. Everything is included,” Jackson said.
Sports Therapy
The Warrior Transition Battalion provides different types of
physical therapy treatments and practices, including track and field exercises,
archery and swimming. The activities provide transitioning soldiers with
outlets to cope with some of their physical and mental challenges. Through the
interviews and counseling, Estevez chose horseback riding as one of his
physical therapy treatments at the WTB.
“We have to groom the horses before we put the tack and
saddle on them. We take them out for a ride, but we then have to take the
equipment off the horses and bathe them before returning them back to the
stable, “Estevez said. During the ride, however, he focuses on the muscle areas
he needs to strengthen.
“It is better than going to the gym [and] doing the same
routine,” Estevez said.
These programs are available to all soldiers who come
through the WTB. The organization provides these activities at no cost and
provides all the necessary supplies.
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